Welcome to the blog of a living being on planet Earth, a holder of (man-mandated) citizenship of India, and so on and so forth! I hope you find it worthwhile to observe the parts of my journey in this lifetime that I share here. "natant" means floating.

April 21, 2008

life in general: (part 4) left's modi on rampage again...

This is horrific. I refer to the gang rape by Communist Party of India (Marxist) goons of a Nandigram-woman-activist who has been among those opposing the SEZ (special economic zones) policies of party's government in the state of West Bengal at Nandigram. I share below an email I just got from Narmada Bachao Andolan. Some newsreports on the horrendous incident are here and here.

The world ought to tell India "What is the point in your bragging about being the largest democracy on Earth when you have no honest intent in honouring it?" My earlier blog posts on this issue are at part 1, part 2 and part 3.(in the map alongside Nandigram is marked out in a yellow circle...Calcutta or Kolkata is also seen...)

The shocking news from Nandigram where the battle is still on, is of the gangrape of Radharani Ari from the village of Gokulnagar and the attack of threeother women, all of whom are hospitalized at the Nandigram Public Hospital. Themen are said to be missing. In a fresh attack around midnight and beyond April18th , known CPI (M) members and Hamad Vahini Party’s armed force fromKhejuri, who are like goons attacked the house of Radha Rani and Pratap Ari,threw Pratap Ari in the tank nearby and gang-raped Radha Rani Ari for thesecond time, in her own house.

Radharani Ari is one of the women at the forefront of the struggle. Coming froma dalit landless family, supported by Pratap Ari, her husband, Radharani wasalways protesting against the SEZ chemical hub project and giving away theland, houses, nature, and culture of Nandigram. Her heart and soul are in itand she is one of the most articulate and courageous women and had even touredthe places of struggle in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra,with us in Nandigram-Narmada- Gorai Jatha.

Narmada Sheet has also been a very committed and outspoken agitator fromSonachura. Other women attacked, include Mona Pramanik and few men were alsomissing when the news reached us early yesterday morning. Till this time, RadhaRani, Pratap, Ari and Narmada Sheet and some others are in the NandigramHospital and a few in Tamluk. At least 20 houses have been attacked sinceyesterday and 100 members of the families, along with houses, much destroyedand belongings looted, have become homeless, left to be supported by the BUPCCommittee. These atrocious incidents occurred in Gokul Nagar, Sonachura,Gadhchakrabedia, under the leadership of Nabakumar Samanta and other CPM activecadres and leaders from Garu Pada, Gokul Nagar, some of whom came from Kejuri.Reportedly, there were also blasts in some houses, including in the house ofone Kokhon Sheet, who was just released, after months long judicial custody.

Nandigram continues to be one of the worst blot on the face of Indiandemocracy. These atrocities continue to happen and recur in Nandigram with theactive involvement of the local CPI(M) cadres and leaders and tacit approvaland blessings of the party leadership at various levels. With most of thevictims for earlier incidents of violence, not even having received justcompensation for atrocities perpetrated against them, and in fact false casesfoisted against the victims of violence, as against the perpetrators, thesefresh blows in their already scarred lives is nothing short of a death blow tothe constitutionally guaranteed rights of the valiant residents of Nandigram

Condemning the continuing violence in Nandigram in the strongest possibleterms, we immediately demand the following:1. All the accused must be immediately identified, charged and arrestedfor gang rape, grievous hurt, intimidation, assault, illegal confinement andwrongful detention and other relevant penal provisions.2. The National Human Rights Commission must take immediate cognizance ofthe violations in Nandigram and recommend stringent penal action against allthose involved, including instituting an inquiry into the involvement of theCPI(M) leadership and cadres in the planning/abetment/execution of the crimescommitted.3. The National Commission for Women must immediately constitute afact-finding delegation that must visit Nandigram and submit its Report to theNHRC and also direct immediate payment of compensation to all the women rapedand all others injured.4. Free legal, medical, psycho-social and other aid and support must beprovided to the women and all victims of state and party violence in Nandigram.5. Compensation to all the affected and attacked, with houses destroyedand rapes/molestation faced, must be paid immediately as per the High Courtorders.